Missing

Missing my Dad this evening and wishing that I could talk to him on the phone just one more time. What I wouldn't give to hear his voice one more time say "Hi Kath, or Love you" or "tell Abby Maddie and Destiny we love them."

My dad wasn't a superhero, maybe nothing special to the rest of the world but in my eyes he hung the moon and stars. He never had an unkind word to say about anyone, he never felt that he had to be the center of attention, he went to work at his blue collar job and gave it his all every day, most of all he made me feel secure and loved.

I hate that his granddaughters will never know truly how much he loved them.

Maddie Grace and Grandpa

Daddy Daughter Date

First...

there were pictures on the escalier (fancy french word for flight of steps)

Then....

There was a limo ride to their favorite restaurant

Where .....

They were served by friendly wait staff

At a table with beautiful flowers

All in all, a perfect date night with Daddy!

I found this song and had to play it. My stepmother told me that after this song came out my dad would stop whenever he heard it and get a distant look in his eyes. She would always ask him "You're thinking of Kathy aren't you?" And he would nod his head yes. I miss him so much and I am glad that my girls have their Daddy. I hope they always know how much he loves them.

Small Town Parade

Kennesaw isn't exactly a small town since technically is is a bedroom community of Atlanta, It has though a small town feel when you are on Main Street. And where there is a small town, there is bound to be a small town parade. And Kennesaw is no different.

Every April Kennesaw hosts the Big Shanty festival. No particular history to the festival and no agenda other than lots of food, arts and crafts stands, more food, and demonstrations by local dancing schools and karate dojo's. The kick-off for the festival is a parade. It begins in the local park and winds its way through downtown Kennesaw. This parade is like most small town parades in that it is filled with convertibles carrying the local beauty queens, proud veterans, local high school bands, politicians, souped up motorcycles, dance troupes, and even a few small float.

This year we got the experience the parade because Maddie was invited to walk in the parade as part of her Daisy (Girl Scout troop). She was so excited because it was her first time to do something like this. I truly enjoyed every moment of it and I like being part of "small town" life (even if it takes me 40 minutes some mornings to go 6 miles because of traffic).

Our little Daisy

A Daisy and a Junior

Getting ready to decorate the truck

The Few, The Proud

No small town parade would be complete without the local plumbing business and their

spinning toilet seat decorated float complete with spraying showerheads

Allatoona High School Band (where the girls will go to High School)

Color Guard girls from Allatoona

We love our Veterans

Maddie's group

Where's Maddie?

Her legs were "tired" from walking so she was sitting pretty

Momma and her girls after the parade was over

Soccer Saturdays

The spring season of soccer is here. It's so nice to be out in the sunshine watching Maddie play.

Through the Years

Abby at Myrtle Beach

Fall 2004

Maddie Boo at Myrtle Beach

Fall 2004

Maddie and Abby playing in the sand

Fall 2004

Maddie in Panama City Beach, Florida

Fall 2006

Destiny, Maddie, and Abby Panama City Beach, Florida

Fall 2006

Destiny, Maddie, and Abby in Daytona Beach, Florida

Spring Break 2008

Playing on the beach in Daytona

Spring Break 2008

Playing on the beach in Panama City Beach, Florida

Spring Break 2010

The Perfect Vacation

I love vacations. I live for vacations. I start planning the next vacation as I am winding up the current vacation.

The truth is though that I am often disappointed by vacation.

I have it built up in my mind of how it will be, where we will go, what we will see and do and eat. And when it doesn't occur the way I think that it should, I am disappointed.

That said, we just returned from the best vacation ever to the beach.

It was the perfect vacation because quite simply, I put no expectations on this trip. I didn't plan our days, I didn't decide on an itinerary or what "we absolutely had to do."

We went to the beach and we went with the flow. We slept in late, we ate in and out as the mood struck us, we read books on the beach, played in the waves, swam in the pool, we cuddled on the lounge chairs on our balcony and listened to the sounds of the ocean, we strolled through Seaside. It was wonderful and I am dreaming of when we can go back.

The girls enjoying our heated pool

Sunset over the gulf

Destiny and her boogie board

I love my beach umbrella!

The girl's sandcastles

Abby and the turtle she rescued from the road at St. Andrews State Park.

Pineapple Willie's.

Clowning around

Destiny doing diligence to her schoolwork even on the beach

Abby loved boogie boarding more than anyone else and did it even on the coldest day there

Love watching the sun go down

Sunset at Seaside

They look more and more alike all the time

Sisters

Seaside Post Office

Sharing shaved ice at the beach

My last morning in P.C before I left for D.C.

Dad won $50.00 for his hole in one at mini golf